Friday, 15 June 2012

Australian Cricketers Threaten To Strike

Australia’s cricketers may go on strike ahead of next month’s one-day tour of England over performance-related pay issues reports said on Saturday. The Australian newspaper said players have examined a boycott of next month’s one-day tour of England or the Twenty20 world cup in Sri Lanka in September-October.

“Relationships between players and management are heated and threatening to become as ugly as the stand-off surrounding the first player contract negotiations during Mark Taylor’s captaincy (1994-1999)” the newspaper said.

“Cricket Australia is playing hardball in negotiations and has frozen all state and Big Bash (domestic T20) contract talks under the threat of Aus $50,000 fine until the new agreement is in place.”

The newspaper said players and state administrators have both raised the possibility of a boycott of next month’s tour to England.

“There’s only 29 days of negotiations left to run, so of course we are preparing for the eventuality of not having a deal in place before the end of July,” Marsh told The Australian.

The players and Cricket Australia were progressing towards an agreement on a controversial shift to performance-based pay when CA tabled a demand to change the definition of cricket revenue, it said.

“The players argue they are not asking for more money, but want to ensure they do not receive less at a time when the game is in reasonable financial health”.

“At the moment the players receive 26 percent of all cricket income but that would move to a sliding scale under a new deal,” the newspaper said.

Australia was scheduled to play England in five ODIs from June 29 – July 10.